Coronavirus Acts: sixth report to Scottish Parliament (April 2021)

3. Our approach to reporting

3.1. In continuing to develop our approach to reporting, we have recognised that some measures in the legislation may have greater impact than others on individuals or groups (people with one or more of the protected characteristics listed in the Equality Act 2010), or more generally on equality and human rights. In assessing the equality impact of the measures the Scottish Government has considered the measures in light of the requirements of the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) as set out in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation, advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not, and foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. Public authorities that are required to publish equality information by 30 April 2021 under the Scottish specific duties (including a new set of equality outcomes, pay gap information and equal pay statements) must do so.

3.2. We have in this reporting period continued to reflect on the views and publications of key stakeholders with an interest in the areas of human rights, children's rights and equality impacts. This has included, but is not limited to, consideration of the written and oral evidence which was submitted to the Parliament's COVID-19 Committee in response to its call for evidence on the regulations^[1] which extended the Scottish Acts beyond 31 March 2021. We have considered the views of other stakeholders in this reporting period, including the British Institute of Human Rights, the Scottish Human Rights Commission and the Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland, and we also recognise the interest and views of the Parliament's Equalities and Human Rights Committee.

3.3. We will keep our approach to reporting on these impacts under review in line with legislation and in response to the views of the Scottish Parliament.